The Mason bee is gathering pollen from Bluecrop blossoms. Once the Mason bees are locked on to the blueberry blossoms they tend to stick with the blueberries even if a crabapple is growing right next to their nest shelter. Honeybees, on the other hand, gladly forsake the blueberries for the much preferred crabapple blossoms. You can hear the buzz of the bees as you approach a crabapple tree. The honeybees are gathering pollen and nectar from the crabapple blossoms. The Pacific crabapple is a native tree so you can expect to find numerous crabapple trees in any wooded area.

The Duke blueberries are at about 25% bloom. English Laurel is very attractive floral source for honeybees. Birds are very good at starting new English Laurel plants and they are very popular with landscape designers.

As the first Duke blueberry blossoms open the honeybees are foraging in the dandelions which are in full bloom. Fortunately the Dandelions will quickly go to seed and the bees can give their attention to the blueberries.

Mason bees emerge from their cocoons a few weeks before blueberry blossoms open. Dandelions and PJM rhododendrons are in blossom during this time. Here are two other food sources: flowering red current followed by maple blossoms.